Israel Matzav

Israeli officials: Talks just giving Iran more time

In what may be an attempt to lay the final groundwork for a strike on Iran, 'Israeli officials' are claiming that the P 5+1 talks are accomplishing nothing except to give Iran more time.

[EU Foreign Policy chief Catherine] Ashton phoned new Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday, just after he was inaugurated in his post, to congratulate him on his appointment. According to a statement put out by her spokesperson, Ashton “underlined her continued determination and commitment to seek a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.”

Ashton said that the world powers known as the P5+1 – the US, Russia, China, Germany, France and Britain – were “ready to work with the new Iranian negotiating team as soon as they were appointed.”

According to the statement, Ashton “confirmed the need for substantial talks that will lead to concrete results swiftly.”

The statement said the two also discussed regional issues and “agreed to meet soon.”

And Israel's reaction....

The only thing talks between Iran and the world’s powers have achieved until now is buy Tehran more time, Israeli officials said Sunday, following EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton’s comment that the P5+1 group is eager to restart the talks.

“We are skeptical in the extreme,” one official said of a new round of talks. He said there was no hope the talks would help “unless the Iranians feel the pressure is being upgraded.”

Patience is justifiably running out. 

Labels: Catherine Ashton, Iranian nuclear threat, Israeli attack on Iran, P 5+1

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:44 AM